[Reader-list] Fwd: Saheli Fire: An update & appeal to help us rebuild our office

[Nagraj Adve]

As many of you know, the Saheli office under the Def Colony flyover
was gutted some days back, a space that has been shared and cherished
by many over the years. Am forwarding an appeal from Saheli, below.
Naga


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Saheli Women <saheliwomen at gmail.com>
Date: 20 May 2011 10:53
Subject: Saheli Fire: An update & appeal to help us rebuild our office
To: Saheli Women <saheliwomen at gmail.com>


Saheli Fire: An update & appeal to help us rebuild our office



Dear friends,



On 13th May 2011, a nasty fire in the Defence Colony Flyover Market in
Delhi gutted about 58 shops and along with that, our Saheli office
with 30 years of our belongings, files, records, documents,
publications, etc. The devastation has been incredible, but if
anything could give us the strength to move on, it has been your
overwhelming support, your presence, offers of help and solidarity  -
we are extremely touched and humbled by it. We hope you understand
that we’ve been unable to write back to all of you individually, but
here is the brief collective update:



Along with some of us, many of you from Delhi simply dropped in to the
Saheli office (or what remains of it!) to help clear the rubble and
salvage whatever could be saved. A lot of partially burnt material has
been collected – maybe about 15%, but it will take us some time to
figure out what is there and what is completely lost. For now, we have
kept what remains in an office, basement and garage offered by
friends. We are also chasing formalities and procedures that need to
be completed before restoration/reconstruction can begin. In all these
years, the running joke under the flyover had been that ‘one day it
will all fall on our heads’, but little did we know…! But it like the
structure is not seriously damaged and we will indeed be able to
return at some point. But it's hard to estimate how long this will
take as the false ceiling, doors, windows all have to be replaced, and
electricity, water, phone and other connections and meters redone
before we can re-start our office.



For those of you who haven’t seen the damage the fire did, enclosed is
a picture that we feel says it all, of a rack that stored our souvenir
from 2006, titled ’25 years of continuity… and change”.



But we are swinging into ‘rebuilding’ mode and there are many ways in
which you can support us:



1) Those of you who are in Delhi and can spare time and energy, your
help in sorting materials will be priceless over the next few weeks.
Sorting happens daily for 3-4 hours [or until the soot gets us!].
Please contact Satnam at 9899212066 or Deepti at 9899019750 who are
co-ordinating this.



2) Our preliminary estimate is that it will take around Rs. 5 lakhs
for restoration work and minimal reprinting of important documents
that we manage to salvage copies of. If you can make a donation,
however small or big, it will be most welcome [as long as they are
personal cheques]. Cheques need to be made in the name of ‘Saheli
Women’s Resource Centre’ and sent with a covering letter stating they
are meant for “rebuilding Saheli” along with your name, address and
phone number/email contact. Cash donations, you can give to any Saheli
you know or meet. For our overseas friends and well-wishers, personal
cheques in foreign currency are also fine.



Since the familiar flyover market address cannot be used :-( please
send the cheques to this address:


Saheli Women's Resource Centre

C/o

Ms Satnam Kaur

P-9/B, Ground Floor

Jangpura Extension

Near Eros Cinema

New Delhi 110014

Ph: 9899212066



All donations to Saheli are exempt under 80G.



3) We are deeply touched by many generous offers to collect Saheli
publications and send them to us. But do hold on that offer till we
sort out our papers and check our personal stocks to know what we have
and what we don’t. We will send out specific requests for materials by
the by.



4) But do tell us if you have the facility (and energy) to scan and
upload some material for our website. This would reduce the need for
storing half charred documents.



5) Many of you have offered items for office use – tables, chairs,
computers and refrigerators etc. It will be great if you can just hold
on to too them till we are closer to redoing the office, then we will
coordinate with you all and maybe even put out a wish list… so that
the office can once again come together as it always has – with things
and energy and resources from all of you!



Thanking you once again for your continued support, love and
solidarity and with hopes of getting back in action under the flyover
in a few months.



ps: Meanwhile, we are planning to gather and reclaim the space under
the flyover in whatever shape it’s in on Saturday, the 28th of May at
3.30 pm!  So do come if you can – we’d love to be together to feel our
collective energy, ideas, songs and determination!



All of us in Saheli

www.saheliwomen.org